Regional

12:21 pm

Sat May 15, 2010

NM Cuts Unfilled Positions

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson has eliminated about 1,000 vacant government jobs.

Richardson announced Friday that by permanently removing the positions from the state budget, they cannot be filled in the future unless the Legislature approves.

Among the 1,071 eliminated positions are 73 appointive jobs. That includes 14 positions in the governor's office, including a senior energy and environment policy adviser and an executive assistant to the governor.

Two deputy cabinet secretaries were eliminated in the Corrections Department and seven positions were cut in the Department of Finance and Administration, including a public information officer.

As part of budget cutbacks last year, Richardson pledged to eliminate 1,000 positions that were vacant.

With the cuts, Richardson said, there are 346 filled appointive jobs under his control.